Oral care implement and method of decorating

ABSTRACT

An oral care implement comprises a head and a body provided with a three-dimensional surface feature on the body that is generally undecorated. A cover is applied to the body and includes a decoration that is associated with the three-dimensional surface feature, such that the body, with the cover applied, appears to have a decorated three-dimensional surface feature.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an oral care implement and method ofdecorating the same, and more particularly to a method of applying adecorative cover to the body of an oral care implement such as atoothbrush handle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Kids' toothbrush handles are often fancifully decorated with colorfulstickers having generic or licensed designs. Such designs are not onlyattractive and aesthetically pleasing, but usually drive the decisionamongst a variety of brushes adorned with different designs.

It is known in the art to provide handle designs that are eithertwo-dimensional or three-dimensional. The typical two-dimensional designis usually a decorative sticker or label of unlimited detail that isadhered or shrunk wrap to the handle and conforms to the shape of thehandle. The production and application of the sticker adds aninsignificant cost to the manufacture of the handle, as the sticker ismanufactured separately and the application of such sticker usuallyrequires a single manufacturing step. Such sticker or label provides ahigh level of flexibility for applying a complex decorative design tothe handle of toothbrush. However, such decorative stickers or labelsusually retain their two-dimensional character relative to a smooth,uncontoured or unsculpted handle.

Three-dimensional designs can take many forms. For example, some designsare molded and form part of the handle structure as shown in U.S. Pat.No. 6,202,242. In another example, an undecorated and uncontoured handlecould be inserted into a preformed three-dimensional decorated sleeve asshown in U.S. Patent D426,958, which sleeve could be manufactured in amore efficient manner separately from the toothbrush and solelycontributes to the three-dimensional character of the handle. In themolded example, and possibly also the sleeve example, multiple paintoperations applied to the three-dimensional feature are usually requiredto deliver an aesthetically pleasing, colorful design. Each paintoperation delivers a particular color to a particular area of thedesign, which requires a separate manufacturing step at an incrementaladded cost. The more paint operations, the greater the cost.

Manufacturers that use licensed designs must often comply with certainaesthetic requirements imposed by the licensor. Such requirements mayrequire a certain level of detail that can only be accomplished with acertain number of paint operations, for example. However, if the numberof paint operations makes the design too expensive to manufacture, thenthe licensee must negotiate the use of a simpler design to the potentialcommercial detriment of both the licensor and the manufacturer. There isa need, therefore, for a way to provide a three-dimensional design thatis aesthetically intricate and economical to manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An oral care implement is provided with a head and a body. The body isfurther provided with a three-dimensional surface feature that isgenerally undecorated. A generally two-dimensional cover is applied toat least a portion of the body that includes a decoration that isassociated with the three-dimensional surface feature, preferably suchthat the body appears to have a decorated three-dimensional surfacefeature. A kit is disclosed that includes an oral care implement and aplurality of decorative covers to be applied to the oral care implement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of an oral care implement inaccordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a cover to be applied to the implement of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates the cover of FIG. 2 applied to the implement of FIG.1.

FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of a kit in accordance with theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following detailed description is of the best mode or modes of theinvention presently contemplated. Such description is not intended to beunderstood in a limiting sense, but to be an example of the inventionpresented solely for illustration thereof, and by reference to which inconnection with the following description and the accompanying drawingsone skilled in the art may be advised of the advantages and constructionof the invention. In the various views of the drawings, like referencecharacters designate like or similar parts.

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of an oral care implement 10, whichwill be illustrated and described herein for purposes of convenience asa toothbrush 10. Of course, other oral care implements, such asflossers, etc., are contemplated. In addition, while the presentinvention focuses on oral care implements, it will be understood thatthe inventive concept could be applied to other products, such aspersonal care products (e.g., razors, hair dryers, etc.), home careproducts (e.g. soap dispensers) and the like.

Toothbrush 10 generally comprises a head 20 with cleaning elements 30,35 and a body 40 defined by a neck 50 and a handle 60. Toothbrush 10 ofthe current embodiment is illustrated as a powered toothbrush with apower element 70 included within the body 40 that drives one or both ofthe cleaning elements 30, 35 in a moving, rotational, dual-oscillatingor counter-oscillating manner. Other ways of powering the cleaningelements 30, 35 are contemplated. Power element 70 could also energizeother powered devices such as a light, sound generator or the like (notshown). However, it will be understood that the present invention isalso applicable to a non-powered implement or toothbrush as well, andthe discussion or illustration of a powered implement is not meant to belimiting.

A three-dimensional surface feature or design 80 is provided on the body40, and more particularly the handle 60 in the illustrated embodiment,and is formed from a plurality of discontinuous surface contours thatform a three-dimensional image. In the illustrated embodiment, thediscontinuous surface contours include, but are not limited to, thearms, hands, face, legs, etc. of the cartoon character. The surfacefeature 80 could also be provided on the neck 50 portion exclusively orin addition to the handle 60. Surface feature 80 is generally integrallymolded as part of the handle 60 in one manufacturing step, although itcould be formed on the handle 60 after the handle shape is formed. Inaddition to the three-dimensional surface feature 80, the handle 60includes at least one surface 90 that is not raised or three-dimensionaland that is usually located on the rear of the handle 60.

The three-dimensional surface feature 80 is decorated through theapplication of a preferably two-dimensional cover 100 (FIG. 2) appliedto at least a portion of the body 40. Cover 100 is provided with adecoration 110 that is complimentary, or matches the three-dimensionalsurface feature provided on the handle 60, such that when the cover 100is applied to the handle 60 as shown in FIG. 3, the three-dimensionalsurface feature appears to be decorated by the decoration 110. In otherwords, the three-dimensional surface feature 80 transforms thetwo-dimensional decoration 110 into a three-dimensional decoration. Ofcourse, the cover 100 preferably also includes other decoration 120 thatis applied over the surface 90 that is not raised or three-dimensional,thus completing the decoration of the entire handle if desired.

The cover 100 is preferably removably or non-adhesively applied to thehandle 60, by a shrink fit, cling fit or the like, and is preferablyformed from a relatively thin film of plastic. Of course, other covermaterials are contemplated. A cover 100 in the nature of a static clingdecal, provides the user with the option to apply the cover 100 to acompletely different article, such as a mirror or window for example,and/or to be used as a decoration on other than the toothbrush 10.Alternatively, the cover is slideably attached to and optionallyretained on the handle by an end cap 65 or the like. In thesesituations, removal and replacement or an alternative use of the coveras desired by the user becomes possible. In one alternative embodiment,the cover 100 is adhesively applied to the handle 60 during manufacture.

FIG. 4 illustrates a kit 130 comprising a toothbrush 140 having a head150 and a body 160, and a plurality of covers 170 retained in a storagereceptacle 175. In this embodiment, a three-dimensional surface feature180 in the shape of a star is provided on the body 160, with acomplimentary decoration 190 provided on the cover 170. The toothbrush140 may be initially provided in the kit 130 without a cover 170,wherein each cover 170 in the storage receptacle 175 has a differentdesign that compliments the three-dimensional surface feature 180.Alternatively, the toothbrush 140 may be vended with a cover 170 alreadyapplied. Either way, the kit enables the user to vary the handle designas desired.

While the present invention has been described at some length and withsome particularity with respect to the several described embodiments, itis not intended that it should be limited to any such particulars orembodiments or any particular embodiment, but it is to be construed withreferences to the appended claims so as to provide the broadest possibleinterpretation of such claims in view of the prior art and, therefore,to effectively encompass the intended scope of the invention.Furthermore, the foregoing describes the invention in terms ofembodiments foreseen by the inventor for which an enabling descriptionwas available, notwithstanding that insubstantial modifications of theinvention, not presently foreseen, may nonetheless represent equivalentsthereto.

1. An oral care implement comprising: a) a head, b) a body attached tothe head and provided with a three-dimensional surface feature havingthree-dimensional surface contours, c) a cover applied to at least aportion of the body, the cover covering at least a portion of thethree-dimensional surface feature and including a decoration that isassociated with the three-dimensional surface feature and adapted toconform to the three-dimensional feature thereby decorating thethree-dimensional feature while generally maintaining thethree-dimensional surface contours of the three-dimensional surfacefeature, wherein the cover is removable, and d) wherein the body furthercomprises an end cap that prevents the removal of the cover when appliedto the body.
 2. An oral care implement in accordance with claim 1,wherein the cover decoration is two-dimensional.
 3. An oral careimplement in accordance with claim 2, wherein the three-dimensionalsurface feature is undecorated.
 4. An oral care implement in accordancewith claim 3, wherein the oral care implement is a powered toothbrush.5. An oral care implement in accordance with claim 4, further comprisingcleaning elements on the head that are powered by a power element in thebody.
 6. An oral care implement in accordance with claim 5, wherein thecleaning elements are counter-oscillating.
 7. An oral care implement inaccordance with claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional surface featureis undecorated.
 8. An oral care implement in accordance with claim 7,wherein the body further comprises a two-dimensional surface feature andwherein the cover includes a decoration that is associated with thetwo-dimensional surface feature such that the body also appears to havea decorated two-dimensional surface feature.
 9. An oral care implementin accordance with claim 1, wherein the cover is non-adhesively attachedto the body.
 10. An oral care implement in accordance with claim 9,wherein the cover is attached by static cling.
 11. An oral careimplement in accordance with claim 1, wherein the three-dimensionalsurface feature further comprises a plurality of discontinuous surfacecontours.
 12. An oral care implement in accordance with claim 11,wherein at least two surface contours are decorated differently by theapplication of the cover to the body.